Buttonhole-sewing machine.



No. 545,742. Patented Mar. 2o,` 1900..

A. H. ARMEN, necd.

G. H. ARAKELIAN, Executor. BUTTONHULE SEWING MACHINE.

(Application filed Feb. 23, 1899.)

(No Model.)

' NrrEn STATES PATENT ARAKELrAN 1r. ARMEN, or TROY, NEW YORK, GEORGE H. -ARARELIAN EXEOUTOR OF SAID ARMEN.

BuTTONHoLE-SEWING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,742, dated March 20, 1900.

Application filed February 23,1899. Serial No. 706,556. (No model.) I

county of Rensselaer, and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buttonhole-Sewing Machines,`

of whichV the following is a specication The invention relates to such improvements; and-it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the reference characters marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several gures herein.

Figure l of the drawings is a top plan view of the bed portion and attachment of my improved buttonhole-sewing machine With the horizontal arm which contains the needle-operating shaft removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine with the pattern mechanism removed. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism for Operating the Worksupporting plate. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the broken line 4 4 in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a view in front end elevation of the machine.

This invention relates particularly to the means for actuating the work supporting plate and to the means for 'cutting the buttonhole after the stitching operation is completed.

A is the base of the sewing-machine proper.

B is the bed which supports Various parts of the buttonhole attachment and which may be iiXed upon the base of the machine in any known manner.

The horizontal bracket-arm 7 is erected from the base of the machine and supports the needle and needle-actuating mechanism in the usual manner, the several parts being common and well known in the art.

C is the apertured cloth-plate, and 10 is the cloth clamp or presser operated by the thumbpiece 11, all constructed in the usual wellknown manner. The cloth-plate is provided with a rearward offset extension, which underlies the rectangular slideWay-frame a and is provided at its end with a slide-block b,

fixed thereon and movable longitudinally in said slideWay-frame. The slideWay-frame CL is provided with a rearwardlyprojecting spindle cl, which fits and is adapted to reciprocate longitudinally in the slide box c, erected from the bed B. The lines of slide movements of the block b and the spindle d are at right angles to each other, whereby a universal movement may be imparted to the work-plate C in a horizontal plane, or a plane perpendicular to the needle.

'The links e, f, g, and 7L are connected together to form a pantograph mechanism, one end of which is provided with a xed pivotal connection with the bed at the corner D, and another part of which mechanism is connected with the slide-block b on the end of the c1oth-plate,wliereby universal movements may be imparted to the. cloth-plate in a horizontal plane by the proper operation of the pantograph mechanism.

As a means for Operating' the pantograph mechanism to move the Work-plate in accordance with a predetermined pattern I have shown a novel form of pattern mechanism comprising an endless carrier and a pin projectin g therefrom at right angles to the plane of movement of the carrier and connected with the pantograph mechanism. The endless carrier comprises, preferably, a sprocketchain Z, which incloses a sprocket driving- Wheel 13 and a guide-wheel llc. Fixed upon one of the links of thechain is a pin t, projecting therefrom at right angles to the plane of movement of the chain, which pin is connected with the link f of the pantograph mechanism, as will be hereinafter more particularly described. It being understood that the pin t is connected with the link fof the pantograph mechanism, it will be readily seen that a movement will be imparted to the Workplate in a path corresponding to the path traversed by the pin, the ratio of movement being varied by means of the pantograph mechanism.

. The sprocket-wheel 13 is fixed to the ratchet` rocatin g the pawl I have shown the same con- IOQ nected by a link m with the arm V, depending from the rock-shaft T, having bearings in the block S, erected from the bed B. This rock-shaft is also provided with an upwardlyprojecting arm W, connected by the link Y with the lever X, fulcrumed at its lower end upon a bracket erected from Jthe bed and having its upper end engageable with and adapted to be vibrated by the cam Z on the needle-shaft, which cam is common in this class of machines. The operation of the seW- ing-machine will thus cause rocking movement to be imparted to the rock-shaft T, which movement will be imparted through the link n to the pawl m, whereby intermittent movement will be imparted to the pattern mechanism. As the movement imparted to the work-plate corresponds with the movement of the pin t, the movement of the workplate can be varied by causing the pin t to traverse paths of different forms.

IE the sprocket-wheel 13 and the guidewheel 7s were of equal and small diameter, the resultant eiect upon the Work-plate in the operation of the machine would be to produce a straight buttonhole, while ifone of these wheels were larger than the other it would canse one end of the buttonhole to be larger than the other end.

As shown, the sprocket-Wheel 13 is comparatively small, while the guide-wheel 7e is comparatively large, whereby I am able, by providing guides adapted to engage the outer side of the chain on opposite sides, to form a buttonhole having approximately straight side portions and terminating at one end in an enlarged circular portion or eyelet end. These exterior guides are preferably in the form of small rollers j, adapted to engage the exterior of the chain on opposite sides and in close proximity to the large guide-wheel 7e and to maintain the sidelengths of the chain between said sm all exterior guide-rollersj and the sprocket-wheel 13 approximately straight and parallel.

It will readily be seen that by the use of properly-located guides for the chain the pin t can be made to traverse a path of any desired formhand a corresponding movement will be imparted to the work-plate.

If desired, the pin t could be erected di rectly from the disk orwheel 7U', in which case it would traverse a simple circular path.

To secure the formation of the buttonholestitch, it is necessary, while imparting to the work-plate a general movement according to the pattern desired, to also impart to the Workplate a succession of minor movements transversely of the general line oi` movement ot the plate, as is well understood in the art. I have shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 mechanism adapted to impart to the workplate these transverse minor movements.

F is a frame havingat one end an arm O, inserted in a slideway in the block E, which is pivoted upon the bed and permits reciprocatin g pivotal and slide movements to be imparted 'to the frame F. The other end of this frame is provided With an arm L, having a pivotal connection with the pin t on the chain, whereby said end ot' the frameis carried along the devious path traversed by the pin. This frame also carries an angle-lever M, provided with a fulcrum-support P, pivoted upon the arm N of the frame,withits axis parallel with the pin t. One arm of this angle-lever is pivotally connected with a link fof the pantograph mechanism by means of the loop or eye w on the end of said link, said lever-arm being provided at its end withaslotted plate fu, the slot therein being elongated and adapted to receive and fit the pin it, erected from the offset K on the upper end of the pin t. The other arm of the angle-lever M is connected by a short link with the arm R, xed upon the sleeve Q, capable of reciprocating slide movement on the fulcrum-support P. This sleeve is connected by means of the swivel connection J with one end of the lever l-I, fulcrnmed upon the arm I of the frame, and connected at its other end by a pivotal and swivel connection with the vertical slide-rod G, which has on its lower end the transverse slideway frame p, in which is located the transverse slide-rod r, capable of reciprocatin g slide movement therein. This transverse slide-rod has a loose screw connection at s with a horizontal arm U, fixed upon the rock-shaft T, whereby the rocking movements imparted to said rock-shaft impart to the sleeve Q, thronghthe lever H, vertical slide-rod G, and transverse slide-rod fr, vertically-reciprocating movements in all positions of the frame F. The swivel and pivotal connection between t-he rod G and the lever Il and the slide-rod connection o" between the rocking arm U and the rod G permit the frame to assume various positions without interfering with this reciprocating movement. The sleeve Q being thus reciprocated causes similar movements to be imparted to the arm of this angle-lever M, connected with said sleeve, thereby causing the other arm of this angle-lever, with its attached slotted plate o, to be reciprocated ap proximately in horizontal lines, the elongation of the slot in the plate?) accommodating the pin u to permit such movement, and this movement is likewise imparted to the workplate through the pantograph mechanism by means of the connection of the latter with this angle lever at w, as llereinbefore described.

The pin t is fixed upon its carrier, as by rigidly connecting it with one of the links of the chain, so that as the pin traverses its devious path it must turn on its axis and in completingits movement around said path must make ICO IIO

a complete rotation on its axis, which will cause the offset K and the pin u to also perform a complete revolution upon the axis of the pin. The piu u is so tted to its elongated slot in the plate fu that it causes said plate to accompany it in its revoluble movement, thereby causing a similar movement to bc imity of the fabric.

parted to the connected lever M, fulcrum-support l?, and sleeve Q, which are free to rotate relatively to the frame F. It will be seen that the plane of the lever M will thus at all times be at right angles to the carrier of the pin t and that the vibratory movements of said lever will thus at all times beat right angles to the general line of movement of the pin t, whereby the minor transverse movements imparted to the work-plate by reason of this vibratory movement of the lever M will also be at right angles to the general line of movement of the plate, it being immaterial whether the stitch-forming operation is being performed upon the straight side or the rounded or eyelet end of the buttonhole. I am thus able to insert zigzag stitches along a patternline in any desired form, it only being necessary to adapt the carrier for the pin t to the desired form.

As a means for cutting the buttonhole I have shown a cutter 4, :fixed upon an arm 3, pivoted in the hollow arm 2, which h as a fixed pivotal connection with the Work-plate at 1. Thev arm 3, with its cutter, is thus made capable of both vertical and horizontal oscillating movements. The work-plate is provided with a stop 5, adapted to be engaged by the arm 2 to properly locate the cutter in position for the buttonhole to be cut, in which position the cutter is brought in line with and beneath the presser-bar 9, reciprocatingly operated by the needle-operating shaft in the usual manner. The arm 3', with the cutter, may be moved and maintained by hand or in any known manner out of the path of said presserbar 9 during the operation of stitching the buttonhole and may be similarly moved and located by means of the stop 5 at the conclusion of the stitching operation beneath the presserbar 9 in position to be depressed thereby to cut the buttonhole. The cutter-arm 3 is provided on its upper side with a spring 8, adapted to be engaged by the presser-bar 9 to operate the cutter and to compensate for any irregularities in pressure or resistance, as that due to variations in thickness or qual- B y locating the cutter upon the work-plate itself, to which is given a universal movement, the cutter can be accurately located in position to out the buttonhole without regard to the exact location of the workplate at the time of the cutting operation.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` 1. In a buttonhole -sewing machine, the combination with the needle and`stitch-forming mechanism; of a Work-plate capable of universal movement in a plane perpendicular to the needle; a sprocket-chain; a sprocket driving-wheel and a guide-'wheel both inclosed by said chain a plurality of guides engageable with the exterior of said chain; between said chain-inclosed wheels; a pin mounted upon said chain and projecting therefrom at right angles to the plane of movement of the chain;

operating connections between said pin and work-plate; and means for operating said sprocket-wheel, substantially as described.

2. Inl a buttonhole sewing machine, the combination with the needle and stitch-forming mechanism; of a movable work-plate; pattern mechanism comprising an endless movable carrier and a pin projecting therefrom at right angles to the plane of movement of the carrier; pantograph mechanism connecting said pin and work-plate; vibrating mechanism connected with said pantograph mechanism, means for intermittently operating said vibrating mechanism and.pincarrier, whereby zigzag movements are imparted to the work-plate along a general line indicated by the 4line of movement of said pin, substantially as described.

3. In a buttonhole sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism; the movable work-plate; a pin; and means for moving said pin along a path corresponding with the pattern of the work to be performed; of a frame having one end connected with said pin and carried thereby along the path of said pin; a lever; a fulcrum-support for said lever mounted upon said frame; a slotted'connection between said pin and one arm of said lever; means for reciprocating said lever and a connection between said lever and work-plate,substantially as described.

t. In a buttonhole sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism; a movable work-plate; Yan endless carrier; a pin fixed upon said carrier; and means for moving the carrier so that the pin shall traverse adevious path corresponding with the pattern of the work to be performed and shall simultaneously turn on its axis; of a frame having one end pivotally connected with said pin and carried thereby along said devious path; a lever; a fulcrum-support for said lever rotatively mounted upon said frame with its axis parallel with said pin; an offset on the end of said pin; a slotted connection between said oifset and said lever; means for reciprocating said lever; and a connection between said lever and work-plate, substantially as described.

5. In a buttonhole sewing machine, the combinationV with a movable work-plate; an endless carrier; a pin fixed upon said carrier; and means for moving the carrier so that the pin shall traverse a devious path and shall simultaneously turn on its axis; of a frame having one end pivotally connected with said pin and carried thereby along said devious path, and its other end pivotally and reciprocatingly supported; an angle-lever M; a fulcrum-support P, for said lever rotatively mounted upon said frame on an axis parallel with said pin; a rotary and reciprocating sleeve Q, connected with one arm of said lever; an oset on the end of said pin; a slotted connection between said offset and the other arm of said lever; a connection between said IOO IIO

IZO

lever and Work-plate; a lever H, fulcrumed rod G and means for operating the crank- 16 upon said frame and swiveled at one end upon shaft, substantially as described.

the sleeveQ; a reciprocating rod G, connected In testimony whereof I have hereunto set alt done end with the lever H; a transverse I my hand this 20th day of February, 1899.

si eWay on the ot er end of said rod G; a v transverse slide-rod 1', movable in said slide- ARAKELIAN H' ARMEN Way; a crank-shaft having fixed bearings; a Witnesses:

crank on said shaft connected with said rod WILLIAM ISENBERGH,

0 and movable approximately in line With the JOHN W. RODDY. 

